Pivot joint for rods and the like



H. B. McCANDLESS.

PIVOT JOINT FOR RODS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FLLED DEC- 16, 192] Patented Nov. 7, 1922.

Patented Nov. 7], i922.

UNETEEE HARRY B. MOCANDLESS, DE 5'1. LOUIS. MISSOURI.

PIVOT JOINT FOR RODS AND THE LIKE.

Application filed December 18, 1921.

is to provide a joint comprising relatively simple, inexpensively manufactured, and readily assembled parts or lements adapted for co-operation to etliciently connect the rods or other such members together in such manner that the rods or the like, while primarily permitted free and easy hinged or pivotal movement, are fastened together with substantial rigidity, whereby squeaks and rattles are largely obviated and Wear minimized.

With the above and other objects in view, my present invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts hereinafter described and afterwards pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing,

Figure 1 is a fragmental plan view of a pair of rods connected or fastened together for pivotal movement by a joint embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the rod and joint parts shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of one of the units or bearing-members of the joint; and

Figures 4 and 5 are sectional views of such not or bearing-member taken, respectively, on the lines 4; .l3 and 55, Figure 3-.

Referring now more in detail to the said drawing, which illustrates a practical embodiment of my invention and in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views, I have illustrated, and will here describe, my new pivot rod-joint in connection with an automobile steering gear, for which use the joint is especially adapted and designed; it will be understood, however, that the joint may be equally well used for'pivotally connecting rods or other such members in other apparatus 0r machines.

In the present instance, therefore, 1 1n- Serial No. 522,849.

dicates the tie-rod of an automobile steeringgear; and threaded or otherwise fixed upon an end of rod 1, is a so-called yoke-member 2 having spaced legs or extensions 3-3.

Forming part of the joint and integrally or otherwise formed upon the outer faces of the legs 3 of yoke-member 2, are outwardly presented oppositely disposed cups or cupbearings 4 l, the wall of each cup being externally threaded, as at 5, to receive a flanged cap 6. At the base of the cups 4, the yoke-legs 3 are annularly cutaway to pro vide apertures or openings 77 of somewhat reduced diameter relatively to the interior diameter of the cups at.

8 indicates a steeringarm ofthe automobile steering-gear, one end 9 of which is dis posed intermediate the legs or extensions 3 of yoke 2 and provided transversely with a bore, as at 10.

Forming part of the joint, is a so-called bolt or pin 11 externally threaded at its opposite ends, as at 1212, to receive cylindrical bearing nuts or so-called bolt-heads 13-43. The bolt or pin 11 is of reduced diameter relatively to the diameter of yokeapertures 7 and, in use and operation, is disposed through, and tightly fitted at its intermediate or shank portion in, the bore 10 of arm 9, with its opposite ends 12 extending within the yoke-cups 4.

Each nut or bearing-member 13 has a di ameter to lit more or less snugly for bearing movement within a cup 1 and at its lower or base end is cutaway to provide an annular shoulder, as at 14:, and a cylindrical extension, as at 15, the latter having a diameter somewhat less than the diameter of the yoke-aperture 7.

Disposed preferably within and at the base of each cup 41; is a grease-Washer or the like 16, and in use and. operation, the nuts or bearing-members 13 are threaded upon the bolt-ends 12 to engage at their shoulders 14: upon the washers 16 at the base of the cups at and to engage at their extensions 15 upon opposite faces of the interposed armend 9. The cups 6, within each of which a suitable thrust washer 17 is preferably disposed, are then threaded upon the cups 4: and function both as closure members for the cups 4 and as so-called greaseretaining members for the nuts 13.

As so disposed and assembled, the cupapertures 7 having a diameter somewhat greater than the diameter of the nut-extenengaged by the nut-extensions 15, lateral.

shifting of arm'S relatively to rod 1 is prevented, the connected members being thus tiiastened together with substantial rigidity and wear taken from such members :nd thrown approximately entirely upon the cooperating bearing-cups d and bearing-menihers or nuts 13.

For facilitating lubrication of the several parts of the joint, the bolt 11 is formed longitudinally with a bore lthand each nut 13 is provided longitudinally with diametris cally opposite surlace channels or ways 19 19 preferably of gradually increasing depth from the inner end shoulder lito the outer end oi? the nut, which ways have communication with each other and with a central nut-bore 20 by means of a transverse end-slot 21, the bore 20 having, in turn, registration with bolt-bore 18. By such construction and with the removal only of upper cap 6, suitable lubricant delivered or placed in upper cup 4 and in the bolt-bore 18 will not only work around upper bearinganember 13, but also down into the lower cup l and around the lower bearing-member 13, and the joint as a wholethus most conveniently maintained in well lubricated condition.

I am aware that changes in the form, construction, arrangement and combination of the several parts of the joint may he made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what lclaim and desire to secure by Letters Patentis:

1.. A pair of spaced elements and amcnr her having an end disposed between said elements, in combination with means for pivotally fastening said elements and member together, said means including a bolt having rigid engagement with the member and nuts having rigid engagement with the bolt and bearing engagement with said elements.

2. A first member having a pair of spaced extensions and a second member having an end disposed between said extensions, in combination with means for pivotally tastening said members together, said means including a bolt having rigid engagement with the second member and nutshaving rigid engagement with the bolt and bearing engagement with the extensions of the first member.

3. A. pair of separate members, in combination with means for pivotally fastening the same together, said means including a cylindrical cup on one member, a bolt having rigid engagement with the other member and having an end projecting into the cup, and a cylindrical member having rigid engagement with the bolt-end and bearing surface-engagement with the cup.

+2. A first member having a pair of spaced extensions and a second member having an end disposed between said extensions, in combination with means for pivotally i'as toning said members together, said means including outwardly presented oppositely disposed cylindrical cups on said extensions apertured at their base, a bolt having rigid engagement at its shank with the second member, the opposite ends or the. boltpro jecting into the cups, and cylindrical nuts having rigid engagement with the bolt-ends and bearing engagement with the cups.

' A first member having a pair oil spaced extensions and asecond member having an end disposed between and spaced from said extensions, in combination with means for. fastening said members together for relative pivoted movement, said means including outwardly presented oppositely dispose cylindrical cups on said extensions apertured at their base, a bolt having rigid engagement at its s rank with said rod, the opposite ends of said bolt projecting into said cups, cylindrical nuts having rigid engagement with the bolt-ends and bearing engagement only with tne cups, and extensions on the nuts projecting through the cup apertures and having thrust engagement with the see 0nd member.

6. A first member having a pair of spaced extensions and a second member having an end disposed between and spaced from said extensions, in combination with means for fastening said members together for relative pivoted movement, said means including outwardly presented oppositely disposed cylindrical cups on. said extensions apen tured at their base, a bolt having rigid en gagement at its shanks with said red, the opposite ends oi? said bolt projecting into said cups, cylindrical nuts having rigid engagement with the bolt-ends and bearing engagement only with the cups, extensions on the nuts projecting through the cup apertures and having thrust engagement with the second member, and closure caps fitted upon the cups.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

H. P. MoC ANDLF SS. 

